EASTERN FREE STATE
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WEDNESDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2014
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Nhlanhla bears it all
“I know that people might think I have gone mad again, but I have not. I want to tell them that no one is mad in this world.” – Nhlanh la Tshabalala
Goes naked for mental awareness } Tladi Moloi
BRAVE: Nhlanhla Tshabalala is pushing his bicycle in Phuthaditjahaba, Qwaqwa. Photo: Tladi Moloi
WALKING naked or half naked on the street is not an easy thing. People will most likely label you as crazy. But it is a different story with Nhlanhla Tshabalala (29) who was recently spotted walking half naked, pushing his bicycle in a busy street of Phuthaditjhaba, Qwaqwa, on his way to the Setsing Shopping Complex. “I am not mad. I am just doing this as an awareness campaign for mentally ill people. If people think I am crazy, then we are all crazy in this world. “I am on a mission and I am just miles away from reaching my goal.” “However, the tough Tshabalala confesses that he was mentally ill for ten years. He pleads with South Africans not to judge him nor call him names because he is not mentally ill anymore. “I was mentally ill for ten years, from 2003 to 2013. It all started with my mother who told me she also went through the same thing when she was young. However, she recovered until the sickness resurfaced in 2002. “I then fell ill and after that my brother was also affected. “My sister was the only one who was not affected,” he says. Tshabalala says he received treatment at the Mofumahadi Manapo Regional Hospital until late last year when he decided not to take the treatment anymore. “I told them that the medication was not good for me and they understood and told me that they would reduce it. “I kept taking the treatment reluctantly until I decided to stop it completely and
told myself that God would provide. I stopped taking the treatment last year with a belief that by 2014 I would be healed. And now I am a healthy man,” he says. He says he went to the Manapo Hospital and the Phuthaditjhaba Police Station to inform them of his campaign because he was afraid that they might think that he was ill again. “I went to the police station and Manapo where I reported to them that I was going to start with my campaign. I told them that they should not think that I am mad again. “I don’t want anyone to stop me because “I want to achieve something which is now within my reach. “I know that people might think I have gone mad again but I have not. I want to tell them that no one is mad in this world,” he says. Tshabalala urges people to stop judging the book by its cover because they do not know what is inside. “I want to take out something inside of me which they don’t see. “There is one of the song I like that goes: ‘Nkgantshe morena, okgantshe dipuong le diketsong lefatshe le bone Christ ka nna’,” says the ambitious Tshabalala. When asked what his campaign was all about, he explains, “Have you see Leon Schuster and Mr Bean? I am going to do what they do. “When I see those people, I wish I could drive to their world because I am multi-talented and I can do what they are doing even better.” To view the video and listen to the audio clip of Tshabalala visit express-news.co.za or our mobi site on expresspaper.mobi
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EXPRESS EASTERN FREE STATE, WEDNESDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2014
NEWS
Tshabalala new mayor } Nkareng Moloi
VUSI TSHABALALA has been officially announced as the new executive mayor of the Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality. Tshabalala’s appointment was announced on Friday during the council sitting by the ANC provincial secretary, William Bulwana. This has ended speculation that Mahlomola Majake was ear-marked for the mayor’s position ahead of the national elections. The appointment of Tshabalala sees Kgwarai Kgwarai replacing him as the chief whip. Bulwane says Tshabalala has proven to them, the ANC, that he is ready and fit to take the position. He says he did everything perfectly while he was still acting. “We are sure road maintenance will be his first priority. Unemployment is still a big challenge in the country, but our people surely need services to be rendered,” he says. Tshabalala thanked the ANC and other councillors for showing confidence in him and for the support that they had given him. “I am going to make sure that we deliver the services to our people. The other challenge I am facing is that the municipality received a qualified report from the auditor general (AG). I want us to do things the right way and get a clean audit on our finances. There won’t be any changes in the mayoral committee, but if there are any, it will be by a directive from the province,” he says. Leona Kleinhans of the DA says: “I want to congratulate the mayor on his new role. I fully support him.”
VUSI TSHABALALA, the mayor of the Malutia Phofung Local Municipal ity. Photo: Tladi Moloi
Rapist gets two life sentences } Tladi Moloi BONGANI ELLIOT MNGUNI (26) from Namahadi near Frankfort was recently sentenced to two life sentences by the Frankfort Regional Court. The sentence came after he had been found guilty of the rape and brutal murder of Lindiwe Mazibuko (41), also from Namahadi. In August 2012 Mnguni and Mazibuko came from a tavern in the area. They were accompanied by another male who later left. Mnguni then forced himself onto the deceased, she fought back and he hit her with a rock and killed her. The accused was spotted by a community member who then alerted the community. Mnguni was found lying on top of the deceased by an angry mob who then executed a citizen’s arrest and handed him over to the local police. He was found guilty on 14 January and heard his fate last Monday. The case was investigated by the Frankfort Detective Services. “I want to thank the community members for not taking the law into their own hands and trusting the police to make sure that justice prevails. “Through team work between the community and the police we’ll be able to reduce these types of senseless and brutal crimes in the province,” said Lt Gen. Simon Mpembe, the Free State provincial commissioner.
A PICKUP was found stuck on its side near a yard where a funeral was conducted after a hitandrun that resulted in the death of a child.
Boy killed in hit-and-run } Reporter AN eight-year-old boy from the Phamong Village in Qwaqwa lost his life in Bolata-Tseki Road when a man driving a white pick-up hit him and left him lying helplessly on the side of the road. The same vehicle was found stuck on its side near a yard where a fu-
neral was being held Apparently the young boy was walking with his grandmother from the Phamong Village near the Riverside Township towards the Phazama section. Sgt Mmako Mophiring said witnesses alleged that the pick-up hit the boy and he fell on the side of the road. He said the driver did not stop
as fled the scene. “The police were called to look for the driver whilst medics attended to the child. “The child was certified dead a few minutes later and the vehicle was found on the side of the road at a house where a funeral was held. “The driver was traced and ar-
Photo: Supplied
rested by the Tseseng Police,” he said. Mophring said the driver (57) was expected to appear before the Tseki Magistrate’s Court soon facing a charge of culpable homicide. “Two people who were with him during the accident were being interrogated by police,” he said.
EXPRESS EASTERN FREE STATE, WEDNESDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2014 3
NEWS
Winners of project to be announced THE award ceremony for the Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s ground-breaking Re Kgaba Ka Diratswana programme will be held on 1 March and highlight the excellent work carried out by ordinary citizens of the province in their own backyards, schools and churches. The programme started in July last year and seeks to empower the communities to not only secure their own sustainable food source, but also create a more uplifting environment in backyards around the province. The awards will be handed out in ten categories following town and district finals, culminating in provincial winners whose work will be recognized as the best in the Free State. More than 8 000 households, schools, churches and other community institutions have been involved in the project to date in competitions that took place in 18 towns across five districts in the province. In total, over 31 000 people have benefited from the garden programme to date. The categories for the Re Kgaba Ka Diratswana competition aim to give everyone an opportunity to show off their creations, but also stretch beyond the growing of plants and vegetables. Conserving for the environment is an important theme as well, with water saving techniques and recycling a part of that. The ten categories of the garden initiative are Best New and Existing Backyard Garden, Best New and Existing School Garden, Best New and Existing Church or Community Garden, Best Innovation to Save Water, Best Innovation to Recycle, Best Innovation for Natural Pest and
“The pro gramme teach es participants skills that could become vital to their everyday lives.” – MEC Mamiki Qabathe
MAMIKI QABATHE, the MEC of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Photo: Tladi Moloi
Weed Control, and Best Innovation to use Natural Compost. The general household survey by Statistics SA (2009) conducted in 2008 found that 33,5% of households in the Free State had no adequate access to food, a number that Department of Agriculture and Rural Development MEC, Mamiki Qabathe, found unacceptably high. The Re Kgaba Ka Diratswana initiative was instituted in part to assist members of the public to grow their own food, but
also to teach them how to store, package and even sell their goods, giving them a vital source of income at the same time. At the same time Re Kgaba Ka Diratswana hopes to promote healthy eating, providing the public with what is essentially organic vegetables for the dinner table. There is a recycling theme to the competition as well, not just with regard to water, but also turning everyday objects such as cool drink bottles, old tyres and ice cream tubs into objects that can hold plants and help a garden reach
its maturity. Participants also received training in how to make their own compost. Much of the soil in informal settlements where the poorest of the Free State’s citizens live, is not conducive to growing plants and vegetables, and so compost becomes a vital part of the process. “The programme teaches participants skills that could become vital to their everyday lives,” Qabathe says. “We are creating hope for people where before there was only despair. In some cases Re Kgaba Ka Diratswana has helped mothers buy school clothing for their children by providing an income with the money they make from selling home-grown vegetables, in others it has helped improve the nutrition of individuals by giving them better choices for the dinner table. “The awards ceremony on 1 March is to honour those who have made an outstanding contribution to the programme and to improving their own lives through Re Kgaba Ka Diratswana. “By recognizing these achievements we also give hope to others that they too can benefit from the programme by becoming part of Re Kgaba Ka Diratswana.” concludes Qabathe. Every member of the community is encouraged to become a part of the initiative in a bid to achieve a healthier lifestyle throughout the Free State. In essence, the old adage of ‘Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime’ perfectly illustrates the aims of the Re Kgaba Ka Diratswana project.
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EXPRESS EASTERN FREE STATE, WEDNESDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2014
NEWS
Slow pace of many cases frustrates
} Selloane Khalane
THE public protector (PP) Thuli Madonsela recently said the Operation Hlasela investigation is a high-profile case with major public interest. This follows an inquiry by Express Qwaqwa and Eastern Free State to establish the completion of Madonsela’s probe into the controversial multi-million rand project run from the office of the Free State premier, Ace Magashule. Operation Hlasela was used as a service delivery vehicle in the Free State with a voluntary fund into which donations could be made. In 2010 the opposition parties Cope, the DA and the Freedom Front Plus requested Madonsela to probe Operation Hlasela amidst allegations of corruption and the abuse of state funds. Recently Madonsela has been accused of only focusing on high-profile cases such as President Jacob Zuma’s homestead, Nkandla, and has neglected cases lodged in other provinces. The PP’s spokesperson, Oupa Segalwe, said Madonsela understood people’s frustrations with the slow pace on other cases and said each matter was given optimal attention. “It must be noted that Operation Hlasela itself is a high-profile case with major
public interest. “The Nkandla complaint on the other hand was lodged in December 2011, more than two years ago,” Segalwe said. Segalwe said their office had a huge quality assurance backlog, which has caused some reports to take longer than ideal. “The PP sincerely regrets the inconvenience to complainants and affected parties,” Segalwe added. The DA Free State leader, Patricia Kopane, said the party had been doing follow-ups on the case with little success. “We want the investigation to be completed before the national elections in April,” Kopane explained. The Cope acting secretary, Mzwandile Hleko, said his party asked the PP to probe Operation Hlasela and the Operation Hlasela Fund in 2010. “We are disappointed that two years later the investigation has not been concluded,” Hleko said. In December Madonsela told Express there was no political interference during the Operation Hlasela investigation. Segalwe said letters informing relevant parties on intended findings with their implications would be sent out in the coming week. Segalwe told Express he could not say with certainty when the report would be released.
Flags fly high during launch ANC WOMEN’S LEAGUE members hold flags aloft during the Party Manifesto Launch at the Charles Mopeli Stadium in Qwaqwa.
EXPRESS EASTERN FREE STATE, WEDNESDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2014 5
NEWS
NYDA held 1st AGM THE National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) Free State Youth Chamber of Commerce and Industries, lead by Thabo Pitse, the convener, and Edgar Legoale, the coordinator, and the provincial task team (PTT) members consisting of ten members representing all the districts, recently hosted its first provincial general council in Qwaqwa. The purpose of the council was to empower 30 Free State delegates attending the National Youth in Business Summit with a clear understanding of the Youth Employment Accord, Youth Enterprise Development Strategy and other policies. As many youths in business are not well exposed to this policies, it was also to nominate a candidate to stand for a national position in the Youth Chamber and to touch base on the draft constitution and make their submission as the Free State to the National Youth in Business Summit. All the districts attended and nominations were made for national positions. Pitse recommended Legoale as the national candidate from the Free State to contest the National Treasury position which was seconded by all
districts present. Mangaung nominated Thabiso Moeketsi, the Mangaung Metropolitan Youth Entrepreneurship Programme (MMYEP) president, and other delegates from all five districts to contest additional positions. The event was graced by the presence of the Maluti-a-Phofung executive mayor, Vusi Tshabalala. The Fezile Dabi Youth Business Forum and MMYEP took the opportunity to highlight some of the policies that will be discussed at the summit, including: 1. The Youth Enterprise Development Strategy (YEDS) – facilitated by the MMYEP secretary general, Thinane. 2. The Youth Employment Accord – also facilitated by the MMYEP secretary general, Thinane. 3. The draft constitution that was presented jointly by the Free State task team’s coordinator, Legoale, and Thinane. ) The Free State Youth Chamber of Commerce on Industry FSYCCI’s NYDA National Youth in Business Summit which was scheduled to take place from 29 to 31 January has been postponed until further notice.
MOEKETSI LEBESA, president of the Dikwankwetla Party of South Africa. Photo: Tladi Moloi
Coalition a reality
} Nkareng Moloi MOEKETSI LEBESA, president of the Dikwankwetla Party of South Africa, has confirmed speculation that the party will be forming a coalition with the ruling party, the ANC, going into the upcoming elections. “Yes, it is true that we’ll be forming a coalition with the ANC,” he says. Even though the decision has left many of their loyal supporters fuming, Lebesa says it is nothing new. “We have done it before in past elections. “For instance, we formed a
coalition with the Azanian People’s Organisation (Azapo), Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) and the DA. “We chose not contest the general elections. So we’ll be working with them. “We’ll announce the terms of our partnership at a later stage,” he says. Vusi Tshabalala of the ANC says: “We are very happy to be in this partnership as their party is the official opposition in the municipality. They play a big role in achieving our goal which is winning the election with a two-third majority and to unite the country.”
ATTENDEES at the provincial general council meeting.
Photo: Supplied
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EXPRESS EASTERN FREE STATE, WEDNESDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2014
SPORT
Hoping to win } Tladi Moloi THE Mamelodi Sundowns
striker – who is on loan to Free State Stars – Richard Henyekane, says his main focus is to help the team to get out of the relegation zone. He says he is hoping to get his form back as soon as possible before it is too late. “I was not happy with my performance on my debut in the Stars colours against Bloemfontein Celtic’s but I am hoping to get things right. “The supporters should be patient and should understand that I have been on the bench for a long time,” he
says. It will evidently help the team. “I have to start scoring goals, because that is what we need at the moment. “We have a quality team and should work hard to finish in the top eight,” he
says. Meanwhile, Ea Lla Koto will welcome the Orlando Pirates in the Absa Premier League encounter tonight at the Charles Mopeli Stadium in Qwaqwa. Kick-off is scheduled for 19:30.
Soccer results in short THE Maluti FET College finally returned to its winning ways when they beat Blackburn Rovers by 2-0 while African Warriors gave points away to FC Cape Town. Black Leopards have moved within five points of log leaders Chippa United with a victory over Santos who, along with Milano United, dropped points. Chippa United 2-2 Thanda Royal Zulu A late goal from James Okwuosa ensured that a ten-man Chippa salvaged a point against bottom side Thanda on Friday night at the Philippi Stadium. The home side netted a goal first through Letsi Koapeng’s fifthminute strike, but Mhlengi Cele levelled this soon afterwards. Things got worse for the Chilli Boys when goalkeeper Abduragmaan White had an altercation with a Thanda player which led to a red card and a penalty. Cele scored from the spot, but Okwuosa headed home from a corner with the last action of the game for a share of the spoils. Black Leopards 2-0 Santos Lidoda Duvha made it two wins in a row thanks to goals from Karabo Tshepe and Brian Amidu. The results see Leopards shoot up to fourth spot, while Santos slip down to seventh.
FOCUSED: Richard Henyekane is on the ball with the Bloemfontein Celtics player during the Absa Premier League (PSL) game.
FC Cape Town 2-1 African Warriors FC Cape Town continued their good form with a 2-1 victory over African Warriors at the NNK Rugby Stadium. Andile Khumalo scored a brace to help the hosts move up to 12th place with 22 points, 7 less than Warriors, who are eighth.
Maluti FET College 2-0 Blackburn Rovers Rovers’ miserable season continued on Saturday when they were beaten 2-0 by Maluti at the Charles Mopeli Stadium. Sanele Mabaso scored an own-goal before Thabiso Mokenkoane netted to make sure of the points. Rovers remain second from bottom with 13 points, while Maluti put some distance between them and the relegation zone. They are 13th with 22 points. Baroka FC 2-1 Milano United Milano United lost their second consecutive match after a 2-1 defeat to Baroka FC at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium. The visitors opened the scoring through Houston Hills, but Thabiso Kudumela and Walter Letsoala hit back to hand Baroka the points. The Limpopo-based side is now fifth with 30 points, 3 behind Milano, who are second. Sivutsa Stars 1-0 Vasco da Gama Sivutsa shocked Vasco with a 1-0 win courtesy of Mpho Mbebe’s first-half goal. It leaves the Cape side third with 33 points, while the home side move up to ninth with 25 points. Witbank Spurs 2-4 United FC United FC won a six-goal thriller against Witbank Spurs at the Puma Rugby Stadium. The visitors were 3-1 up at the break thanks to goals from Mpho Mvelase, Conrad Madolo and Thulanio Khwinan, with Peter Mubayiwa scoring for Spurs. Ralph Matema got a second for the hosts, but Mvelase got his second to kill off any hopes of a comeback.
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68 To let: caravans 231 Diary 232 Deceased
69 To let: trailers 70 Car parts 71 For sale: bakkies 72 For sale: motorbikes 73 For sale: cars
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Free SMS Special pages Top Services guide Free dogs Free cats Friendship corner Wanted: Miscellaneous Wedding guide Hunting Lost Found Church Services Restaurants and guest-houses Grade 1 messages Pipes and poles for sale Lifts Day-care Notices Nursery Schools Relaxation and entertainment Personal Courses/Training Worth knowing Swop column Tombstone manufacturers
74 For sale: trucks 75 For sale: harvesters 76 For sale: tractors 77 For sale: boats and equipment 78 For sale: caravans 79 Wanted: cars for sale 80 To let: vehicles 81 Implements for sale 82 For sale: Trailers 83 Bakkie canopies for sale 84 4 x 4 for sale
85 Wanted: property to let 87 To let: smallholdings 88 To let: houses 89 To let: duettes 90 To let: offices 91 To let: townhouses 92 To let: farms 93 To let: business premises 94 To let: flats 95 For sale: businesses 96 For sale: property
27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
Jewellery Computers for sale Antiques and art Miscellaneous Horses for sale Pets Livestock Dogs for sale Birds for sale Furniture Wanted Fodder for sale Cats for sale Poultry for sale
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Special services Boreholes Repairs Building Gardening Interior house services Exterior house services Adult relaxation and entertainment Security Computer repairs Transport/Storage Financing/Loans To let: general Painting
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97 For sale: erven 98 For sale: smallholdings 99 For sale: houses 100 For sale: townhouses 101 For sale: farms 102 For sale: business premises 103 For sale: flats 104 Wanted: property for sale 105 To let: property 106 For sale: duettes 107 Block of flats for sale 108 Coastal property
109 Business opportunities 110 Vacancies required 111 Vacancies offered 112 Overseas job opportunities 113 Block vacancies
120 Official notices 121 Legal notices 122 Estates 123 Insolvencies
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EXPRESS EASTERN FREE STATE, WEDNESDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2014
“We have produced many professional players in the past and we want to do it again.” – Tumelo Thebe
EASTERN FREE STATE
For more sportnews and photos go to www.express-news.co.za
SIPHO MAZIBUKO, Rantsi Mokoena (Free State Stars general manager), Vusi Tshabalala (acting mayor of the MalutiaPhofung Municipality), Tumelo Thebe (Member of the Mayoral Council (MMC) for Sports, Arts and Culture in the MalutiaPhofung Municipality) and Mojalefa Matona at the launch of the MalutiaPhofung Mayoral League for the unemployed youth. Photo: Tladi Moloi
Mayoral soccer games kick off } Tladi Moloi A TOTAL of 60 teams in the Maluti-aPhofung Municipality has been registered for the recently launched Malutia-Phofung Mayoral League for the unemployed youth. The tournament is expected to kick off before the end of this week. The teams will battle against one another during the tournament. In the end only 16 teams will start the league tournament which is expected to run for 32 weeks. Tumelo Thebe, the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Sports,
Arts and Culture in the Maluti-a-Phofung region, says they have put aside R1 million for the tournament. However, he says he is not in a position to name the prizes for the league winner and the runner-up since they still have to decide on that. “That money will be used to run the tournament. It includes transportation of the players and many other things which we might need for the success of the tournament. “We want the tournament to be one of the best in the country,” he says. Thebe says the league is strictly open for the unemployed youth. “We want to keep our youth busy and
keep them off the streets. We will only allow players aged 35 years and younger,” he says. Games will be played during the week and on weekends. When asked how they will work with the Local Football Association (LFA), he says they are going to have a meeting with the LFA to reach an agreement on some matters. He says they are quite aware that there is currently a league running under the LFA’s name and they are not going to disturb it. “We don’t want to be involved in football politics and we have made it clear to our teams that we don’t want teams that are
affiliated to the LFA,” he says. Vusi Tshabalala, the acting mayor of the Maluti-a-Phofung Municipality, encourages the unemployed youth to take part in the tournament. He says they will be happy to have some of the players from their municipality in the professional league. “We have talent in our municipality but no one is taking care of it. We want to identify talent and nurture it because it would be good for us to have a player in the national team. “We have produced many professional players in the past and we want to do it again,” he says.